Coast Guard rescues three from Groton-based fishing boat

Montauk, N.Y. — The Coast Guard said they rescued three fishermen today who were clinging to the bow of a sinking fishing boat from Groton.

Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound in New Haven received a distress call from a crew member aboard the Robert James, a 41-foot commercial fishing boat, stating the boat was taking on water and sinking fast off Gardiners Island, N.Y., according to a statement from Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Jetta Disco.

The three fishermen were immediately advised to put on their lifejackets. The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine broadcast and dispatched a 47-foot motor life boat Coast Guard Station Montauk.

When the Coast Guard boat arrived on the scene they found the three fishermen holding onto the bow of the partly submerged fishing vessel, the Coast Guard said. The boat crew removed the three fishermen just before the vessel sank.

“Our boat crew responded quickly to the request for assistance, transferring the three fishermen onto our boat,” said Petty Officer Second Class Brent Walsh, the 47-foot Motor Life Boat operator from Coast Guard Station Montauk. “Once the fishermen were safely on board and not in need of medical attention, we determined it unsafe to transfer our boat crew over to dewater the partially submerged vessel due to hazardous sea conditions.”

There were no reported injuries to the fishermen and no pollution in the vicinity of the sunken vessel, the Coast Guard said. At the location of the rescue, winds were blowing 20 and 25 miles per hour and seas were 3 feet.